Democrats and Republicans lukewarm on Kerry speech

Democrats and Republicans alike ran lukewarm after the John Kerry Middle East speech on Wednesday.

Democrats and Republicans alike ranlukewarm after the John Kerry Middle East speech on Wednesday.

"Secretary Kerry's speech today was at best a pointless tirade in the waning days of an outgoing administration, " said Senator John McCain, a Republican fromArizona. "At worst, it was another dangerous outburst that will further Israel's diplomatic isolation and embolden its enemies."

Not only Republicans were not enamored with the Kerry speech, however. Democrats as well reacted to the speech with tepid praise. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland, top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, shared the concern that a two state solution was not being honored, but did not agree with the decision of the U.S. to abstain from the United Nations Security Council vote to condemn Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory.

"While he may not have intended it, I fear Secretary Kerry, in his speech and action at the U.N., has emboldened extremists on both sides," said Senator Chuck Schumer who is the incoming Senate Democratic leader.

European countries seemed to praise the speech but Arab countries also seemed indifferent to the turn from the American government.

"At the last five minutes of the hour, apparently Kerry and Obama are showing some courage to stand up to Israel, but it is coming too late in the game," said Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a professor of political science in the United Arab Emirates. "It is after the fact. They should have shown this amount of political courage four years ago, if not eight years ago."